Universal rolling window screen



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' F. S. DRAKE UNIVERSAL ROLLING WINDOW SCREEN Filed March 20. 1954 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE Application March 20,

13 Claims.

'Ihe primary object of my invention is the provision of a type of rolling window screen which may be installed in any normal window opening having sliding sashes, irrespective of variations in 6 size of such window openings. Secondary objects of my invention are to provide a type of rolling window screen available at much less than the usual cost of installations of this type. Another object of my invention is to provide a standard set of equipment for the purpose described, which may be purchased as a unit and installed in window openings of varying types and sizes.

Other and more specific objects are concerned with the provision of structural parts and an assembly for the purpose, which not only will be adaptable to varying types of window openings, but also will be simple and easy to adapt and install, so that the units heretofore mentioned can be purchased by the householder and installed by him with very little trouble and expense, and so as to take the place of inexpensive adjustable screens heretofore provided 'for similar constructions.

These and other objects of my invention which will be set forth hereinafter, or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specications, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe an exemplary embodiment, reference being had to the drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a horizontal section through my device on the lines I-l of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of my structure, with part of the roller housing in section.

Figure 3 is an end view of my roller housing.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the end of my end-fastening member.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of my lower guide member.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of my upper guide member.

Figure 7 is a plan view of an end of my upper guide member.

Briefly, in the practice of my invention I provide a rolling window screen of a type to be moved horizontally across a window opening. To this end, a roller housing containing a spring roller on which the screen cloth is wound, is adapted to be fastened to a side frame member of the window opening. The bottom portion of this housing will, of course, lie adjacent the sill. It will be clear that a standard housing and roller may be made containing sucient screen cloth in length to extend for the longest expected width of any normal window opening.

1934, Serial No. 716,448

The screen cloth of a rolling window screen should slide in side guides. As a consequence, I provide a guide member which may be attached to the window sill, and another guide member which may be attached to the lower rail of a 5 window sash. 'I'he proper vertical width of the opening to be screened may therefore be gauged by the height to which the lower sash of the window is raised. On the frame member of the window opening opposite the one to which the roller housing is attached, I provide an end bar adapted to receive and lock the draw bar of the window screen.

My construction, which will be understood to be exemplary only, will now be more particularly l5 described. In the various gures, 2 indicates a window sill, and 3 and 4, respectively, indicate vertical side frame members of the window opening. 5 indicates the lower rail of a window sash. An exemplary form of roller housing is indicated 20 at 6. It is formed 0f a piece of sheet metal bent into a tubular shape so as to enclose three sides and a part of the fourth side of a rectangular or tubular inner space. A part of the fourth side is open, as at 1, and the edges of the metal 25.

member 6 adjacent this opening, may be turned back upon themselves as at 8. The screen cloth is withdrawn and rolled out through the opening 7. Top and bottom closure members, shown respectively at 9 and l0, are provided. These may be of metal with turned up edges, and of a size to slip into the ends of the housing member 6, wherein they may be fastened in any way desired, as by bolts, by spot-welding, or otherwise. It will be understood that the particular details of construction of my roller housing are not a limitation on the broader aspects of my invention. I have shown in my exemplary embodiment referred to, a type of housing which is effective, but is simple to construct and low in cost. 40 I preferably employ a type of spring roller which likewise is inexpensive and is similar in construction to the spring rollers used for Window shades. The details of the construction thereof are not an essential part of my invention. Such 45 a roller is ndicated at Il, and a shaft pin I2 projects from one end of it. The lower end closure member 9 may be perforated to receive this pin, whereby the roller is journaled at one end. From the other end of the roller there projects the 50 flattened end of a shaft member I3, which will be attached to the spring inside the roller; In order that this spring may function properly, it is necessary to hold the member I3 non-rotatably in the upper housing closure member l0; and to 55 Y installations, no means for this end a simple construction is illustrated in Figure 3, wherein the upper closure member I is slotted as at I4 to receive the member I3, and a hook-shaped member I5 is pivoted as at IB, so that it may be swung into position to engage the member I3 and hold it in the slot I4. The screen cloth is indicated at I1, and has one end attached to the roller in any suitable manner, as will be readily understood.

Ordinarily I employ a metallic screen cloth, but it will be understood that my invention is not limited either to screen cloth or to any particular kind or quality thereof. Thus, if the purpose of my device is to provide ventilation rather than a screening effect, the member I1 may be made of an air pervious cloth. It may also be made of such other materials as may be desired, and hereinafter in the specification I shall refer to the member I1 as the closure member, intending thereby to embrace any fabric of which it may be made. The side edges of the closure member will normally be selvedge edges, or will be treated to prevent fraying. The other end of the closure member I1 may be attached to a draw-bar I8, which Yis conveniently made of sheet metal folded over on itself, as clearly shown in Figure 3, and held by rivets, grommets or the like I9.

I have shown a bottom guide member 20 conveniently, though not necessarily, formed of wood. This is illustrated in section in Figure 5, where it will be seen that the member carries a vertically disposed' groove 2I. It is adapted for attachment to the sill of a Window by means of screws or the like 22. An upper guide member is indicated at 23i'n Figure 2, and is shown in section in Figure 6, where it will be seen that it has a groove 24 horizontally disposed with respect to the guide member. Since this guide member is adapted for attachment to the lower rail of the sash, as by screws 25, it will be seen that in use the groove 2a will be vertically disposed. The closure member I1 and draw-bar I8 ride in the slots in these guide members.

The guide members may be furnished as a unit with the other elements of the screen construction, and when so furnished are supplied in standard lengths which are substantially as long as the greatest width of window opening expected in use. For narrower window openings, the householder or person who installs the screen, may cut these guide strips to the required length and apply them in the way shown. The left hand end of the upper guide strip 23 is notched out as shown at 2B in Figure '7, so as topass the end of anend member 21, shown in Figures 2 and 4. This end member is an angularly shaped strip of sheet-metal having a portion 28 for attachment to the side frame member of a window, and a portion 29 bearing means hereinafter to be described, for engaging the draw-bar. The two portions 28 and 29 are severed from each other at the upper end, and a severed portion 28a may be bent inwardly, and also bentso as to provide a latching shoulder 33 and a Vcurved handle portion 3 I. The end member 21 may be fastened to the side frame member of the window, as by screws 32.

It has hitherto been said that lengthwise adjustability in my construction is taken care of by the length of the closure member I1. Vertical adjustability is taken care of by the height to which the sash is raised, as will be clear. In many fixing the window sash at a certain height will be necessary. Certain sashes are not, however, properly counterbalanced. If underweighted the sash Wil-1 tend to drop; but the draw-bar I8, riding in the guide 23, will prevent this when the screen is in use. If the sash is overweighted it may tend to rise. My invention, therefore, likewise contemplates theY provision of means which will fix the height of the sash in proper relationship to the screen, more particularly by preventing an accidental raising of the sash. A number of means may be employed to do this. I have illustrated in the means just described, an economical construction for the purpose. It will be seen in Figure 2 that the bent portions of the member 28 of the end piece engage the guide member 23 and x it in po- If the sash has been raised too high, it may be lowered; and when so lowered, l5 the end of the guide 23 will engage the curved handle member 3i and depress the latch member on the member 28, permitting the sash to come down into correct position. If the sash is incorrect position, or in any lower position, it may be raised to any extent desired by depressing the handle member 3 Irwith the' fingers, thereby freeingthe sash..

Since the spring in theV spring roller tends to draw the closure member I1 into thehousing 6, 25 latch means mustV be provided tohold the drawbar against the end member. 2.1. These latch means may be any desired. I have shown a simple form comprising a plate 33 attached to the draw-bar latching ears 3B. A reversally bent over gear 35 pivots a handle member 36 to the-plate 33. When the draw-bar IBVhas been drawn to the left. as far as possible in the construction shown, the

sition, as shown.

latching ears 34' may be engaged in holes 31 in 35.

the end piece 21, so as to hold .the draw-bar. The draw-bar may be disengaged therefrom by a slight outward pull on the handle 36.

The spring roller housing 6 may be attached toV the righthandvertical frame member of the 40.

window in any way desired, as by screws or the like. Preferably it will bemade easy to attach, and preferably also, it may be madeY removable, so that during periods of non-use of the screen the housing, including the closure member I1 and 4.5;

the draw-barv I8, may be taken offv and put away so as to leave the window opening wholly unobstructed. I have shown an exemplary means comprising a bracket member 38 attached to the sill by means of a screwY 39, and an upper bracket `4 member 4I] attached to the side frame member of the window by a screw 4I. As avariant of this, the memberdi] may be attached to thespring roller housing-and may be slotted to'receive the screw 4I. When this is done, the roller housing 55` may be detached by an upward movement which frees it from the bracket 38, and by a downward movement whichrfrees the bracket 4I] from the screw 4I It will be understood Vthat modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 1. A sliding windowscreen for horizontal operation in window openings, comprising a spring roller housing, a closure member attached thereto, said closure member having a draw-bar, a

guide member for attachment to a window sill, 70.

be attached. 754

I8, and having a pair of bent over 301.

2. A sliding window screen for horizontal operation in window openings, comprising a spring roller housing, a closure member attached thereto, said closure member having a draw-bar, a guide member for attachment to a window sill, and a guide member attached toa vertically sliding sash, the position of said last mentioned memberv varying with the position of said sash, an end member' to which said draw-bar may be attached, and means for determining the height of said sash to bring said guide members into proper interspaced relationship.

3i A sliding window screen for horizontal operation in window openings, comprising a spring roller housing, a closure member attached thereto, said closure member having a draw-bar, a guide member for attachment to a window sill, and a guide member attached to a vertically sliding sash, the position of said last mentioned member varying with the position of said sash, an end member to which said draw-bar may be attached, and means for determining the height of said sash to bring said guide members into proper interspaced relationship, said means comprising a latch member adapted to limit the vertical raising of said sash, said draw bar being adapted, in cooperation with said guide members, to limit the lowering of said sash.

4. A sliding window screen for horizontal operation in window openings, comprising a spring roller housing, a closure member attached thereto, said closure member having a draw-bar, a guide member for attachment to a window sill, and a guide member attached to a vertically sliding sash, the position of said last mentioned member varying with the position of said sash, an end member to which said draw-bar may be attached, and means for determining the height of said sash to bring said guide members into proper interspaced relationship, said means comprising a latch member adapted to limit the vertical raising of said sash, said draw bar being adapted, in cooperation with said guide members, to limit the lowering of said sash, said latch member being releasable to permit further raising of said sash.

5. In combination, a spring roller housing containing a spring roller and a closure member, a draw-bar on the end of said closure member, and upper and lower guide members adapted to be cut to t a window opening, one of said members being for attachment to the sill thereof, and the other of said members being for attachment to a sash of said window, and an end member adapted for attachment to the side frame member of a window opening, said end member and said draw-bar having cooperating interengagement means.

6. In combination, a spring roller housing containing a spring roller and a closure member, a draw-bar on the end of said closure member, and upper and lower guide members adapted to be cut to t a window opening, one of said members being for attachment to the sill thereof, and the other of said members being for attachment to a sash of said window, an end member adapted for attachment to the side frame member of a window opening, and said end member and said draw-bar having cooperating, interengagement means, said upper guide member being notched to receive the end of said end member.

'7. In combination` a spring roller housing containing a spring roller and a closure member, a draw-bar on the end of said closure member, and upper and lower guide members adapted to be cut to t a window opening, one of said members being for attachment to the sill thereof, and the other of said members being for attachment to a sash of said window, an end member adapted for attachment to the side frame member ci a window opening, and said end member and said draw-bar having cooperating interengagement means, said upper guide member being notched to receive the end of said end member, said end member having means for engaging said upper guide member to limit the height of said window sash.'

8. n combination, a spring roller housing containing a spring roller and a closure member, a draw-bar on the end of said closure member, and upper and lower guide members adapted to be cut to t a window opening, one of said members being for attachment to the sill thereof, andthe other of said members being for attachment to a sash of said window, an end member adapted for attachment to the side frame member of a window opening, and said end member and said draw-bar having cooperating interengagement means, said upper guide member being notched to receive the end of said end member, said end member having means for engaging said upper guide member to limit the height of said window sash, said means comprising a bent over resilient end oi said end member having further bends therein to dei-lne a shoulder and a handle member.

9. In combination, a spring roller housing cong taining a spring roller and a closure member, a draw-bar on the end of said closure member, and upper and lower guide members adapted to be cut to it a window opening, one of said members being for attachment to the sill thereof, and the other or" said members being for attachment to a sash of said window, an end member adapted for attachment to the side frame member of a window opening, and said end member and said draw-bar having cooperating interengagement means, said upper guide member being notched to receive the end of said end member, said end member having means for engaging said upper guide member to limit the height of said window sash, said means comprising a bent over resilient end of said end member having further bends therein to deine a shoulder and a handle member, said handle member being disposed at an angle to said upper guide, whereby said guide will act to depress said handle member upon lowering of said sash.

10. A screen construction for use with a window frame having a vertically movable sash therein, comprising a spring roller housing containing a spring roller and a closure member having a draw-bar on its end, said housing being detachably connected to side frame member of said window opening. a lower guide member attached to the sill of said window, an upper guide member attached to said sash, and an end member having means for engaging said draw-bar fastened to the other side frame member ci said window opening.

11. A screen construction for use with a window frame having a vertically movable sash therein, comprising a spring roller housing centaining a spring roller and a closure member having a draw-bar on its end, said housing being detachably connected to a side frame member of said window opening, a lower guide member attached to the sill of said.window, an upper guide member attached to said sash, and an end member having means for engaging said draw-bar fastened to the other side frame member of said window opening, said draw-bar comprising a CTL metallic piece bent over upon itself and fastened to the closure member, and a latch member comprising a'plate, a handle, and ears on said plate, said end member having perforations therein to receive said ears.

l2. In combination, a spring roller housing containing a spring roller and closure member, a draw-bar on the end of said closure member, a lower guide member having a horizontally disposed portion for attachment to a Window sill and a vertically disposed groove, an upper guide Vmember having a vertically disposed portion for attachment to 'the lower rail member oi a window sash and a vertically disposed groove, and an end member for attachment to the side frame member of a Window opening, said members adapted to be positionedas described with the housing aiiixed to a side frame member of the Window opening, so that said closure member will cover said Window opening, said draw-bar being ren tractable into said housing sufficiently to clear said upper guide to permit lowering of said sash.

13. In combination, a spring roller housing containing a spring roller and closure member, a draw-bar on the end of said closure member, a. lower guide member havinga horizontally disposed portion for attachment to a Window sill and a vertically dispo-sed groove, an upper guide member having a vertically disposed portion for Y attachment to the lower rail member of a window sash and a vertically disposed groove, and an end member for attachment to the side frame member of a Window opening, said members adapted to be positioned as described with the housing aixed to a side frame member of the window opening, so that said closure member will cover said Window opening, said draw-bar being retractable into said housing sufficiently to clear said upper guide to permit lowering oi said sash, and means for maintaining said sash at a ixed height, for the purpose described.

FRANK S. DRAKE. 

